Chardon School Board, teachers reach tentative agreement

Bargaining teams from Chardon's school board and its teacher union reached a tentative agreement during a collective bargaining session on July 29.

The Chardon Board of Education and the Chardon Education Association drafted the tentative agreement with the assistance of a federal mediator, according to a news release sent July 30.

The five-member board and union members must ratify the agreement during the next few weeks. According to Allen Herner, a Chardon High School teacher, the teachers will vote on the tentative agreement on Aug. 13. If approved, the board will vote at its next meeting on Aug. 17.

The agreement follows the release of a new state budget that reduces state funding levels to the district by about $1 million in 2016-17, the release stated.

'The impact of the new state budget created a challenging bargaining climate for our school district,' Superintendent Michael Hanlon said in a statement. 'Our bargaining unit is to be commended for working with the school district to achieve a resolution that recognizes the value our personnel bring to our classrooms and students, and provides a financially responsible agreement for our future.'

'The CEA bargaining team thanks everyone for their support during this three-month negotiations process,' Tammy Segulin, CEA president, said in the release. 'We look forward to preparing for the new school year.'

Through a spokeswoman, Segulin and Hanlon decline to comment further on the agreement until it is ratified.

Earlier this month, Chardon teachers threatened to strike because of dissatisfaction with how negotiations were moving. Negotiations on the contract, which affects nearly 180 certified teachers, tutors, guidance counselors and nurses, began April 16.